Hungary continues to resist EU pressure to change its stance on the Russian Federation

European Union (EU) countries purchase more oil from the Russian Federation through intermediaries than Hungary, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told Hungarian television channel M1.

,,According to the latest statistics, only 2.2% of Russia’s total oil exports go to Hungary’’, the minister said.

He stressed that the vast majority of Western European countries continue to purchase large volumes of Russian oil through indirect channels. According to Szijjártó, they are trying to hide this fact by making general accusations against Budapest, even though oil imports from Asia to the EU have increased 10-12 times in recent years.

Hungary has previously again opposed sanctions and restrictions imposed by Brussels on oil supplies from Russia.

,,Without Russian oil, a reliable energy supply for Hungary is not possible”, Szijjártó added.

Therefore, Budapest cannot accept any restrictive measures regarding oil supplies via the Drujba pipeline, as this would endanger Hungary’s energy security.

The minister also commented on calls from some NATO member states for a tougher policy towards Moscow, and a dangerous escalation of relations with Russia may become inevitable.

,,From the very beginning, three and a half years ago, we have clearly expressed our position that the worst-case scenario would be a direct confrontation between the North Atlantic Alliance and Russia’’, he noted.

Budapest said it would remain concerned about developments that could lead to even greater tensions in the conflict in Ukraine.